Graham warns U.S. will control Hormuz—or obliterate Iran

Graham warns – Sen. Lindsey Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that if talks with Iran fail, the U.S. will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge fees for passage—adding that the U.S. would “obliterate” Iran if it contests that control. Iran, meanwhile, says any

The question landed like a switch—whether diplomacy would hold, or whether the Strait of Hormuz would become the next battlefield.

On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Sen. Lindsey Graham. R-South Carolina. laid out a blunt scenario in which the United States would move from talks to force if Iran resists control of one of the world’s most vital waterways. He said President Donald Trump is weighing options after spending more than four hours with him on June 19. and he warned that resistance could bring catastrophic consequences.

Graham was pressed on comments from Texas Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, as well as Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who have expressed skepticism about sending U.S. funds to Iran. Graham said the U.S. should keep pursuing diplomatic talks, but he believes they will fail.

“The money Iran gets is not going to change the future of Iran,” Graham said. “It’s not enough to reconstruct the country.” He added, “Let’s try a diplomatic solution. I think it’s going to fail.”

Iran, for its part, has framed the dispute around ceasefire enforcement. The country has alleged “ceasefire violation” and said it would close the Strait of Hormuz again, citing an “ongoing violation of the ceasefire.”

Graham said he expects the U.S. to take control of the Strait of Hormuz if the diplomatic effort does not work. He described a plan in which the U.S. would control the waterway, charge a fee for all who go through, expand the Abraham Accords, and require Saudi Arabia to join.

“If Iran contests control of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States, we will obliterate them,” Graham told Brennan. He continued: “So, to all the people listening, if this diplomatic effort fails, President Trump is going to take the Strait of Hormuz.”

The stakes are immediate and economic as well as strategic. Graham tied the moment to the fragile peace deal being negotiated by the Trump administration and warned that closure of the Strait of Hormuz—crucial to the world’s oil supply—has harmed efforts to keep that deal intact.

The confrontation also underscores a more practical reality: Iran’s geographic position gives it leverage in the region. and Iran appears prepared to use it. Iran has previously said it closed the Strait after its leaders pointed to an “ongoing violation of the ceasefire” by Israel following military strikes in Lebanon. with those claims reported through state media on June 20.

In the background of Graham’s comments is a widening gap over who is being held in check. He said the U.S. has so far failed to rein in the Israeli government, even as Iran accuses the U.S. and Israel of ceasefire violations.

For now, the picture being drawn is starkly conditional: diplomacy first, but with control of the Strait of Hormuz—and the power to shut it down—sitting at the center of what comes next.

Lindsey Graham Face the Nation Strait of Hormuz Iran ceasefire violation Abraham Accords Saudi Arabia Ted Cruz John Cornyn Bill Cassidy Trump administration U.S. control oil supply